% Namechange

## Table of contents {#pagetop}
[Why change name](#intro)                                           --
[Online persona](#online)                                           --
[Friends and family](#friends)                                      --
[Officialy](#official)                                              --
[Peculiarities](#peculiar)


## Why change name {#intro}

Having a name corresponding to your gender is the ultimate goal of
transitioning socially. Once people start calling you by your chosen
name it will require of them conscious effort to keep misgendering
you. That is the power of gendered names. Little by little most will
simply start seeing you as your proper gender. This effect is
especially pronounced in online communities. Therefor it is important
to emphasize to others to *call you by the correct name*. Calling you
by the old wrong name on purpose is *deadnaming*, a form of
transphobia.

There are several contexts where you can change your name. This
depends on the person, but here we describe several levels. The
easiest place is [online](#online). You can also come out to your
[friends and family](#friends). The most challenging one from a
bureaucratic point of view is to change your [legal
name](#official). Note that if people still gender you as the doctors
did when you were born, but then get introduced to your new name, they
will know you are trans.


## Online persona {#online}

Many transgender people start transitioning online. This is safe
because you can hide any links to yourself if you are not too certain,
or don't want to come out to the people near you. Moreover you can
test the waters by interacting with others using a new identity. This
is nice if you [are still wondering](amitrans.md).

Online transitioning involves simply changing your usernames, display
names and contact details to reflect the gender you are transitioning
to, or to something else if you are non-binary. For example simply
subscribe to a new email address or perhaps add an alias to your old
one. Think about whether you want to start a completely new identity
with no links to your previous one, or if you want them to be related.
Having a link between the identities implies [coming
out](coming-out.md) to those who know of both. Whatever is ever online
will stay there forever. So think carefully.


## Friends and family {#friends}

Asking your friends and family to call you by a new name is not
easy. This is related to [coming out](coming-out.md) to them, but
neither implies the other. If you haven't come out, then asking to be
called by a different name means you need to come out to them. If you
have already come out, then asking them to change how to call you is
easy for you, but might not be easy for them. Previously they didn't
*really* have to change their behaviour around you, but now they
do. Finally, now they really have to start gendering you correctly.
Therefor go easy on them as long as they don't deadname you on
purpose. And remember that your parents might have spent a lot of time
choosing your birth name, and so it might not be easy for them to
change their ways overnight.

Just as with coming out, everyone will now be in two classes: those
who should use your new name, and those who don't know it. Before
revealing your name to somebody, think in which contexts you want them
to call you by that name. Would you want them to call that name in
public? Near your colleagues? Near random people in a bar? Near your
transphobic aunt to show their support? Think about that and the
associated risks and benefits. Perhaps the safest way is to first ask
them to use the new name only in one-on-one communication.


## Officially {#official}

Changing your legal name and gender requires a legal process which
might be as simple as ticking a box online (yay Norway!), or require
several years of living in your true gender and several recommendation
letters from psychologists. This depends on the law in your
[country](index.md#country). Without going into the details which
might not apply everywhere we describe here several places where your
legal name and/or gender is printed, and which you should figure out
how to change.


### Identity card / legal name

Your legal name is used on any official documents in your
country. This might include bills, housing contracts, insurance
contracts, the name doctors, clerks, and other officials call
you. Once your legal name has been changed, remember to update it
wherever it is required.


### Passport

Once your legal name has been changed, you should apply for a new
passwort reflecting that change. If not, you would have to use your
old name when traveling, and depending on country this might cause
difficulties if you have to contact your embassy while abroad. Note
that typically all your visas become invalid when changing passport.
If you have dual citizenship, consider whether you want or can change
your legal name in both countries and update both passports.

When applying for a new passport, it is safest to present yourself in
gender neutral clothes for the photo if your name is gendered
differently than the gender label in the passport. See
[peculiarities](#peculiar). For example looking female with a male
gender label is not illegal. It is just risky when traveling to
certain countries. Immigration officials are not always the
friendliest of people.


### Other certificates

After changing your legal name (and possibly gender), you can try to
amend past documents that have your old name. Important documents
include your birth certificate, your current contracts
(e.g. employment, rental, subscriptions, name in online services),
your bank and credit cards, your past degree certificates, possibly
your past employment records or work certificates. Your government
might provide an exhaustive list of companies and agencies which have
your name in their records.


## Peculiarities {#peculiar}

Some online services allow changing your displayed name but not the
username. In these services it is worth creating a new user if you are
bothered by being reminded of your wrong name.

Changing the legal name does **not necessarily** mean that you will
have the correct legal gender on your documents. This depends on
country.

In the [UK](transition-uk.md) even if you have the correct legal
gender you need to spend some extra effort to amend your birth
certificate.  Otherwise you might end up in the wrong jail in case of
trouble with the law.
